Method and apparatus for inserting a case into a carton

Abstract

A case inserting apparatus for inserting a square case 1 into a carton 2 with an optical disk D loaded includes a bucket conveyor to introduce and dispose a case 1 opposite the opening portion 2 a of the carton 2 at a case insertion station 100 , a contact portion 6 to press against the longitudinal end surface 1 d of the case 1 to incline the case 1 on a case placement surface at the case insertion station 100 , a pusher 3 to press against a lateral end surface 1 b of the case 1 to move the case 1 toward the carton 2 so that a first corner C 1 of the case 1 which has been most close to the opening portion 2 a of the carton 2 can be inserted into the opening portion 2 a of the carton 2 and thereafter to insert the entire case 1 into the carton 2 , and a contact portion 7 to press against a second corner C 2 of the case 1 , which is disposed laterally opposite the first corner C 1 of the case 1 , in a substantially lateral direction with the first corner C 1 of the case 1 inserted into the opening portion 2 a of the carton 2 , thereby inserting the second corner C 2 of the case 1 along with the first corner C 1 into the opening portion 2 a of the carton 2.

1 . A case inserting method for inserting a square case with an optical disk into a carton comprising: 
 a) disposing a carton at a case insertion station, the carton having an opening portion for case insertion at one end thereof;    b) disposing a case opposite the opening portion of the carton;    c) pressing against a lateral end surface of the case at a position offset from a longitudinal centerline of the case, thereby inclining the case on a case placement surface at the case insertion station to insert a first corner of the case, which approaches most closely the opening portion of the carton, into the opening portion of the carton;    d) pressing against a second corner of the case, which is disposed laterally opposite the first corner of the case, in a substantially lateral direction with the first corner of the case inserted into the opening portion of the carton, thereby inserting the second corner of the case along with the first corner into the opening portion of the carton; and    e) further pressing against the case toward the carton to insert the entire case into the carton.    
   
   
       2 . A case inserting method for inserting a square case with an optical disk into a carton comprising: 
 a) disposing a carton at a case insertion station, the carton having an opening portion for case insertion at one end thereof;    b) disposing a case opposite the opening portion of the carton;    c) inclining the case on a case placement surface at the case insertion station so that a longitudinal centerline of the case can intersect a longitudinal centerline of the carton;    d) pressing against a lateral end surface of the case toward the carton to insert a first corner of the case, which has approached most closely the opening portion of the carton, into the opening portion of the carton;    e) pressing against a second corner of the case, which is disposed laterally opposite the first corner of the case, in a substantially lateral direction with the first corner of the case inserted into the opening portion of the carton, thereby inserting the second corner of the case along with the first corner into the opening portion of the carton; and    f) further pressing against the case toward the carton to insert the entire case into the carton.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein when inclining the case on the case placement surface a press is applied to at least either one of laterally opposed end surfaces in the substantially lateral direction.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein when inclining the case on the case placement surface a pair of presses to form a couple is applied to laterally opposed end surfaces in the substantially lateral direction.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein when pressing against a lateral end surface of the case toward the carton to insert the first corner of the case into the opening portion of the carton the point of action of a press on the lateral end surface coincides with the longitudinal centerline of the case.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein when pressing against a lateral end surface of the case toward the carton to insert the first corner of the case into the opening portion of the carton the point of action of a press on the lateral end surface is offset from the longitudinal centerline of the case.  
   
   
       7 . (canceled)  
   
   
       8 . A case inserting apparatus for inserting a square case with an optical disk into a carton comprising: 
 a) a case insertion station at which case insertion into a carton is carried out, the carton having an opening portion for case insertion;    b) a case introducing device to introduce and dispose a case opposite the opening portion of the carton at the case insertion station;    c) a case transferring device to press against a lateral end surface of the case at a position offset from a longitudinal centerline of the case so as to incline the case on a case placement surface at the case insertion station to insert a first corner of the case, which approaches most closely the opening portion of the carton, into the opening portion of the carton, thereafter transferring the case toward the opening portion of the carton to insert the entire case into the carton; and    d) a case pressing device to press against a second corner of the case, which is disposed laterally opposite the first corner of the case, in a substantially lateral direction with the first corner of the case inserted into the opening portion of the carton, thereby inserting the second corner of the case along with the first corner into the opening portion of the carton.    
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein a carton positioning device is further provided at a position beside a longitudinal end surface of the carton and near the first corner of the case to contact the end surface of the carton and position the carton during a press of the case pressing device is applied to the second corner of the case.  
   
   
       10 . A case inserting apparatus for inserting a square case with an optical disk into a carton comprising: 
 a) a case insertion station at which case insertion into a carton is carried out, the carton having an opening portion for case insertion;    b) a case introducing device to introduce and dispose a case opposite the opening portion of the carton at the case insertion station;    c) a first case pressing device to press against at least a longitudinal end surface of the case so as to incline the case on a case placement surface at the case insertion station;    d) a case transferring device to press against a lateral end surface of the case to transfer the case toward the carton, thereby inserting a first corner of the case, which has approached most closely the opening portion of the carton, into the opening portion of the carton, thereafter transferring the case toward the opening portion of the carton to insert the entire case into the carton; and    e) a second case pressing device to press against a second corner of the case, which is disposed laterally opposite the first corner of the case, in a substantially lateral direction with the first corner of the case inserted into the opening portion of the carton, thereby inserting the second corner of the case along with the first corner into the opening portion of the carton.    
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the first case pressing device is formed of a pair of members disposed on opposite sides of the case and when the first case pressing device inclines the case on the case placement surface a pair of presses to form a couple is applied to laterally opposed end surfaces of the case in the substantially lateral direction.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein when the case transferring device presses against a lateral end surface of the case the point of action of a press on the lateral end surface is offset from the longitudinal centerline of the case.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein when the case transferring device presses against a lateral end surface of the case the point of action of a press on the lateral end surface coincides with the longitudinal centerline of the case.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein a carton positioning device is further provided at a position beside a longitudinal end surface of the carton and near the first corner of the case to contact the end surface of the carton and position the carton when a press of the second case pressing device is applied to the second corner of the case.  
   
   
       15 - 16 . (canceled)  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the case insertion method is carried out relative to the carton that has no flaps at the opening portion for case insertion.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the case insertion method is carried out relative to the carton that has no flaps at the opening portion for case insertion.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein case insertion by the case transferring device is carried out relative to the carton that has no flaps at the opening portion for case insertion.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein a carton opening device is further provided to open and raise the flat-folded carton in a solid figure so as to form the opening portion for case insertion at one end of the carton.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein case insertion by the case transferring device is carried out relative to the carton that has no flaps at the opening portion for case insertion.  
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein a carton opening device is further provided to open and raise the flat-folded carton in a solid figure so as to form the opening portion for case insertion at one end of the carton.